Rep. Fleischmann on baseball practice shooting: 'I got bloody running and jumping into the dugout'

WASHINGTON – Rep. Chuck Fleischmann couldn’t tell from which direction the gunshots were coming, but he knew he was in danger.

“It was loud, it was constant, so I actually ran and jumped into the dugout,” the Ooltewah Republican said.

Other members of the Republican congressional baseball team huddled inside the dugout as the gunfire continued for several minutes at the practice field in Alexandria, Va., just outside of Washington.

“It’s just a madhouse here,” Fleischmann said shortly afterward during a telephone call from the scene. “It’s horrible. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

A gunman opened fire around 7 a.m. Wednesday on the GOP congressional baseball team, wounding Louisiana congressman Steve Scalise and four other people as horrified legislators and staffers scrambled for cover amid a hail of bullets.

► More:Rep. Steve Scalise, others shot at congressional baseball practice

► More:Live stream: Scene where Rep. Steve Scalise, others shot in Alexandria, Va.

Authorities identified the gunman as James Hodgkinson, 66, from Belleville, Ill. President Donald Trump later said the suspect was killed in the ensuing shootout with Capitol Police. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Hodgkinson had volunteered on his presidential campaign.

Fleischmann, who plays right field, was shaken but not hit. He was the only member of the Tennessee congressional delegation who was at the practice and witnessed the shooting.

Fleischmann estimated there were 50 to 60 people at the practice, including House members, senators and their staffs. The GOP team was practicing for a charity baseball game scheduled for later this week against a Democratic team.

The practice had ended, Fleischmann said, and he was walking down the third base line with Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., when the gunfire erupted.

“We were talking about how well practice had gone that day,” he said. “And then as I went around, I heard a large single pop. One shot. I didn’t know it was a gun at first.”

Within minutes, Fleischmann said, a hail of shots was raining down. Fleischmann said he and Larry Hardy, one of the team’s coaches, hit the ground.

“Then we realized we were literally out there,” Fleischmann said. “We didn’t know exactly where the shots were coming from.”

Fleischmann ran to the dugout, where other members of Congress and their staffs huddled as multiple gunshots continued.

“There was a child in the dugout because children come out and watch us play,” Fleischmann said. “The children were secured. We went against the wall in the dugout. … One gentleman had been shot in the leg, and he was bleeding, and I could actually see the bullet hole in his leg. Other members were like me, bloodied up just trying to get there, because they had just jumped into the dugout.”

► More:Tennessee lawmakers ask for prayers after shooting at congressional baseball team practice

Fortunately, Fleischmann said, Capitol Police traveling with Scalise – as the Republican whip, he is assigned a security detail – returned fire and stopped the shooter from moving forward.

“We were like sitting ducks in the dugout,” Fleischmann said.

Hours later, the congressman said he was still in shock.

“Baseball is part of America, it’s a dear part of our country,  our country’s history,” he said. “The congressional baseball game has gone on for over 100 years. This is where Republicans and Democrats come together, raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity, we practice for a couple of months leading up to the game. This should be a happy and safe time and a very happy and safe place for Americans, on a ball field.”

Other Tennesseans in Congress offered their prayers for the wounded and others impacted by the shooting.

"My prayers are with all those affected by this morning's shooting," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Chattanooga, wrote on Twitter. "I am extremely grateful for our brave Capitol Police officers.

"This was a shocking attack on members of Congress, their staff, and on U.S. Capitol police. I pray for the health of everyone who was injured. We are especially grateful for the exceptional bravery of the U.S. Capitol police and first responders," Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Maryville, said in a statement.

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville called the shooting “horrible” and added: “Violence is never the answer.”

Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, said he had feared violence would be directed at a member of Congress since then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot at an event in 2011.

"There's been too much violence, too much hate and too much anger," he said.

Craig Gilbert of USA Today contributed to this story.